Southwest Asia (Middle East)

The student will locate selected features in Southwestern Asia (Middle East). Locate on a world and regional political-physical map: Euphrates River, Jordan River, Tigris River, Suez Canal, Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, Arabian Sea, Red Sea, and Gaza Strip. Locate on a world and regional political-physical map the nations of Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey.

The student will discuss environmental issues across Southwest Asia (Middle East)Explain how water pollution and the unequal distribution of water impacts irrigation and drinking water.

The student will explain the impact of location, climate, physical characteristics, Distribution of natural resources and population distribution on Southwest Asia (Middle East)Explain how the distribution of oil has affected the development of Southwest Asia (Middle East) Describe how the deserts and rivers of Southwest Asia (Middle East) have affected the population in terms of where people live, the type of work they do, and how they travel.

The student will describe the diverse cultures of the people who live in Southwest Asia (Middle East)Explain the differences between an ethnic group and a religious group. Explain the diversity of religions within the Arabs, Persians, and Kurds. Compare and contrast the prominent religions in Southwest Asia (Middle East): Judaism, Islam, and Christianity. Explain the reason for the division between Sunni and Shia Muslims. Evaluate how the literacy rate affects the standard of living.

The student will compare and contrast various forms of government. Describe the ways government systems distribute power: unitary, confederation, and federal. Explain how governments determine citizen participation: autocratic, oligarchic, and democratic. Describe the two predominant forms of democratic governments: parliamentary and presidential.

The student will explain the structures of the national governments of Southwest Asia (Middle East)Compare the parliamentary democracy of the State of Israel, the monarchy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the theocracy of the Islamic Republic of Iran, distinguishing the form of leadership and the role of the citizen in terms of voting rights and personal freedoms.

The student will analyze different economic systems. Compare how traditional, command, and market economies answer the economic questions of (1) what to produce, (2) how to produce, and (3) for whom to produce. Explain how most countries have a mixed economy located on a continuum between pure market and pure command. Compare and contrast the economic systems in Israel, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey.

The student will explain how voluntary trade benefits buyers and sellers in Southwest Asia (Middle East)Explain how specialization encourages trade between countries. Compare and contrast different types of trade barriers, such as tariffs, quotas, and embargoes. Explain the primary function of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)Explain why international trade requires a system for exchanging currencies between nations.

The student will describe factors that influence economic growth and examine their presence or absence in Israel, Saudi Arabia, and Iran. Explain the relationship between investment in human capital (education and training) and gross domestic product (GDP)Explain the relationship between investment in capital (factories, machinery, and technology) and gross domestic product (GDP)Explain the role of oil in these countries economies. Describe the role of entrepreneurship.

The student will analyze continuity and change in Southwest Asia (Middle East) leading to the 21st century. Explain how European partitioning in the Middle East after the breakup of the Ottoman Empire led to regional conflict. Explain the historical reasons for the establishment of the modern State of Israel in 1948; include the Jewish religious connection to the land, the Holocaust, anti-Semitism, and Zionism in Europe. Describe how land and religion are reasons for continuing conflicts in the Middle East. Explain U.S. presence and interest in Southwest Asia; include the Persian Gulf conflict and invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq.